New grants target inclusive sport roles

January 28, 2026 BY
Inclusive sport grants Victoria

Fresh funding: Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said the grants encourage organisations to work together to break down barriers and get more people with disability involved in the sport workforce. Photo: SUPPLIED

APPLICATIONS are open for a new program designed to increase opportunities for regional Victorians living with a disability to join the sport and recreation workforce, in both paid and volunteer roles.

The Level the Field initiative offers grant funding across two streams.

The Levelling Up stream provides up to $250,000 for projects that support employment pathways for people with disability, from volunteering through to paid roles in sport and active recreation. The Long Game stream offers up to $350,000 for projects that focus on system and organisational change.

“We’re proud to partner with Leisure Networks to create more opportunities for people with disability to get involved in the sport and recreation workforce across regional Victoria,” Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said.

“The grants encourage organisations to work together to break down barriers and get more people with disability involved in the sport workforce.”

Fresh funding: Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said the grants encourage organisations to work together to break down barriers and get more people with disability involved in the sport workforce. Photo: FILE

 

Leisure Networks chief executive David Meade said the partnership would help sporting organisations build more inclusive workplaces.

“Leisure Networks is thrilled to partner with Sport and Recreation Victoria to deliver a program that will empower the sport and recreation sector to design and deliver innovative solutions that increase volunteer and employment opportunities for people with disability,” he said.

“This program is providing sporting organisations across regional Victoria with the opportunity to create more inclusive, accessible and disability confident workplaces that foster connectedness, contribution and purpose sport and recreation.”

For more information, head to levelthefield.org.au

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